Simplification
|
Pruning
|
OAK can simplify a formula by matching them against patterns specified in rules describing algebraic transformations
|
OAK can prune a formula by evaluating conditional elements of the expression and discarding the bits of the expression that don't apply.
|
The formula =IF(A1>B1,A1,B1) can be rewritten as =MAX(A1,B1). OAK has a set of rules that it can use to alter expressions through algebraic transformations.
|
If the value in cell A1 is bigger than the one in cell B1, then the formula =IF(A1>B1,A1,B1) evaluates to the contents of B1. One could replace the IF by writing =A1.
|
The formula will give results in its simplified form that are identical to the one it gave in its original form, no matter what inputs are provided to it....
|
The formula above would continue to give the same answer after it has been pruned as it did before, only so long as A1 contained to exceed B1.
|
...subject to fine print concerning transformation rules that are conservative or aggressive.
|
(The notion of conservative or aggressive treatment is not relevant to pruning a formula)
|
Offered by OAK
•in the Formula | Optimize command •as an option in Formula | Reconstruct •as an option in the Formula | Analyze Discrepancies command |
Offered by OAK
•in the Formula | Prune Inactive Path command •as an option in the Formula | Reconstruct command •as an option in the Formula | Analyze Discrepancies command |
When developing a spreadsheet, you may like to keep the suggestions of OAK's Formula Optimize command permanently.
|
You will definitely not want to keep pruned formulas permanently. Pruning alters the spreadsheet, in a way intended to make it easier to understand, but which will lead the spreadsheet to give the wrong answer with different inputs. Make sure you keep a copy of the spreadsheet before pruning it.
|